What are the chances.......

[slim_boy_fat]

As thread title.

I had both rear springs replaced on the e60 last Wed after the o/s one was found to be snapped when I went to change onto my Summer alloys/tyres [I know, later than planned but weather & other factors intervened ops:].

Today I had a Doc's appointment at the surgery and the n/s front one snapped when I set off. I made it for the appointment OK and on time, but didn't want to risk driving either home or to my local garage [which replaced the rears last week] a mile away, for fear of damaging the tyre with the broken end of the spring.

So, a call to the RAC (freephone number) which I have included in my insurance package and a nice young lady took all the details and arranged recovery by a local[ish] garage [we never see an RAC van this far North], the concession being 'farmed out'. A very nice chap arrived in approx 40 minutes having travelled 28 miles, loaded the old girl on his flatbed tilt wagon and she's presently in hospital. ops:

Local garage ordered a replacement pair of springs today which he'll have tomorrow [along with a pair of drop links which he said always break or are very difficult to get off - [thereby costing more in labour charges than the new d/l parts ]. So it'll be sometime next week before she's discharged and back in 'lockdown'.......

As far as I know, the front springs may well be the originals, so after 139[ish]k miles and 17 years, that ain't too bad. At least I'll not have to worry about replacing springs any time soon!

Could have done without it, though.....

 

[mpats]

That's no fun. At least you've found someone to sort it. Rear spring went on the truck a month or so ago, I'll be honest I didn't fancy trying to source one and messing about on the drive around work but getting it in somewhere was a bit of a pain. Took a bit under 3 weeks to get it sorted.
It had done a tyre too, had them fitted not that long ago.

Cars eh!

 

[pedrobedro]

I had both front springs break on the Berlingo last year and I bought an hydraulic spring compressor from Machine Mart and did them myself. I cut the old drop links off as a matter of course as they are always seized and knackered anyway. Springs and drop links cost about £50 and compressor was £110 and has been used on nephews car since then.

 

[Migmac]

Daughter hit another pot hole, alloy square now! Found another the same with a tyre, sorted. Next day flipping starter motor packed in. ECP, £120 ish, I’m not paying that for a starter. Bay of thieves £60, seller didn’t get good reviews. Found one in Germany, £49, 2 year warranty. So like you John, it never rains but pours. Hopefully that see the wee car for a while

 

[sako243]

Who says BMWs are reliable?


I can honestly say I've never snapped had a spring snap on any of my Land Rovers. Defender had 120k on the original ones but replaced because they got a little saggy for the loads I was carrying.

We'll gloss over snapping crankshaft(s)...

 

[slim_boy_fat]

We'll gloss over snapping crankshaft(s)...

Don't think we don't see that!

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I had both front springs break on the Berlingo last year and I bought an hydraulic spring compressor from Machine Mart and did them myself. I cut the old drop links off as a matter of course as they are always seized and knackered anyway. Springs and drop links cost about £50 and compressor was £110 and has been used on nephews car since then.

I've seen the day when I'd not have given jobs like that a second thought but a) I'm no longer fit for that sort of stuff any more [took me all my time to change all the wheels over, they're bloody heavy! ] b) I don't have a garage or off-road space c) last week the temps were in the mid - high 20s d) today it was cold & raining Tempus [and good health] fugit.....

Last week's job of supplying and fitting both rear springs came to £217 odd, so I didn't feel that was excessive - the fronts with drop links will probably be a bit more, but that's the price of car ownership, n'est pas

 

[northwest]

I've seen the day when I'd not have given jobs like that a second thought but a) I'm no longer fit for that sort of stuff any more

Getting old really isn't for the faint hearted.

I have a bit of a clunk on the Asteroid. So far I have changed the Springs the drop links the top bearings and the brakes. Still have the clunk. Getting on my nerves now!

 

[Wallace]

The only reason I changed springs in my younger days was to go round corners faster! It seems to be the norm these days and I have done a few over the years, our Vauxhall Vectra has had a full set at 160k,

 

[sako243]

Don't think we don't see that!

To be fair it in post analysis (after the second one went) @8ob and I concluded muppet error. The damper pulley had failed, I might have accidentally finished it off / exasperated the issue at the last cambelt change.

Had that been spotted (was fairly obvious when we knew what to look for) then it could have been replaced with the cambelt for £30. Mind you it only cost £400 for two replacement engines in the end . And I've ended up with substantially more power because a previous owner of the last short block has substantially tweaked it unbeknownst to me at the time.

 

[Burdekin]

At my wife’s uncle’s old garage in Ardgay?

 

[chunkolini]

On the motorway a couple of years ago I spotted a Fiat Doblo exhaust on the hard shoulder , pointed it out to my son and BANG mine dropped off.
Weird.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Getting old really isn't for the faint hearted.

My only consolation is that I'm not doing it any faster than anyone else

At my wife’s uncle’s old garage in Ardgay?

Aye, the very place.

 

[pedrobedro]

My only consolation is that I'm not doing it any faster than anyone else

I'm getting old faster these days, yesterday I was only 67 and now today I'm 68 As they say, "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm getting old faster these days, yesterday I was only 67 and now today I'm 68 As they say, "time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana"

Happy birthday fella. . If you're in the WA later today I'll buy you one

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@slim_boy_fat

how many springs in how long?

Well, if you rag it, try to drift it at your age, what do you except?

You are not a boy racer.
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.You are a mature hard driver, pushing the limits of german steel.

 

[Barking Mat]

What causes that, potholes?

Never broken a suspension componenr.

 

[Shox Dr]

A Compression type spring may take a ‘set’ of about3-5% (reduced in over all length and available travel.) when first put into use.

But they do not break. Unless the spring is compressed beyond is intended design spec, and then they almost always end up bent and not broken.

Crap material/design is the main cause of broken springs.

 

[willie.macleod]

At my wife’s uncle’s old garage in Ardgay?

Coggles?

 

[MoreWellie]

not just a recent thing, i remember one breaking on a transit about 20 years ago